Automatic ball throwing machine



Sept. 16, 1969 8. v. RHODES AUTOMATIC BALL THROWING MACHINE Filed March28, 1966 BYBA7RY %7 7 T IL lllll llllllllllllflll 17ml 727:!

United States Patent Office 3,467,073 Patented Sept. 16, 1969 3,467,073AUTOMATIC BALL THROWING MACHINE Barry V. Rhodes, 22358 Baltar St.,Canoga Park, Calif. 91304 Filed Mar. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 537,909 Int. Cl.A631) 69/30, 65/12 US. Cl. 124--11 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apneumatically-driven automatically-recycling ball throwing machinehaving means for feeding a single ball into the breech of the barrelimmediately following a launching cycle and including means for delayinga repeat launching cycle until a selected air pressure has beenreestablished. The ball seating means maintains a predetermined leadinggroup of balls captive in a tubular column free of the weight of avariable number of balls in a trailing group of balls, the latter beingreplenished periodically from an agitated reserve supply of balls. Thebarrel includes a liner for use in launching smaller diameter balls aswell as readily variable means at the muzzzle end for impartingdifferent selected degrees and types of spin to the ball duringlaunching.

This invention relates to ball throwing machines and more particularlyto an improved machine of this type capable of launching balls in rapidsuccession from a large reserve supply thereof without attention of anykind and in a safe and foolproof manner.

This application embodies certain improvements and advantages over arelated construction disclosed in my copending application for UnitedStates Letters Patent Ser. No. 497,763, filed Oct. 19, 1965, sincematured into Patent No. 3,400,703 and entitled Automatic Ball ThrowingMachine for Use by Sportsmen. The earlier construction functions in amost satisfactory manner but has a limited reserve ball capacity. Allballs are normally stored in aligned feeding relation to the breech ofthe launching barrel. In consequence, the pressure acting on theforemost balls depends upon the total number of balls present in theball feeding hopper. The automatic, smooth-action and proper reloadingof the machine immediately following launching of a ball is dependent toa considerable degree on the free movement of the leading ball followedby the forward movement of all other balls aligned for flow to thebreech chamber. This objective is facilitated by use of air pressureserving to launch a ball, and, addi tionally, to cause agitation if notslight momentary rearward movement of the balls enroute to the breechchamber. Such agitation and rearward movement is variably affected bythe number of balls involved and this is particularly true if the numberis either very small'or excessive. Highly satisfactory results areachieved with a uniform predetermined back pressure best obtained in agiven arrangement of the ball feeding means by the presence of the samenumber of balls. This optimum number is so small as to require theattention of someone to replenish the balls frequently and preferably asthe balls are launched.

To avoid these and related disadvantages of prior ball launchingmachines, there is provided by the present invention an improved fullyautomatic machine having large if not generally unlimited storagecapacity for reserve balls and arranged to maintain ball feeding meansof the most eflicient and effective capacity fully charged at all timeswhile isolating the operation of this feeding means from interference byany ball in the storage chamber irrespectively of the number of reserveballs there present. Another feature is the provision of means forreplenishing the reserve ball supply at any time without risk ofinterfering with the operation of any aspect of the machine and withoutrisk of affecting the smooth and certain flow of balls into thelaunching breech.

An additional feature is the provision of powered means for spinning theball in any desired plane as an incident to launching the ball andincluding means for changing the plane of spin of successively launchedballs.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the invention to provide animproved ball launching machine featuring unique means for rechargingthe machine immediately and as an incident to the launching of each ballwhereby the machine is reconditioned for the next operating cycle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an automaticallyrecycling ball launching machine having storage means for large numberof reserve balls together with means for maintaining a predeterminednumber of these balls isolated and in readiness for sequential flow intothe breech of a launching barrel.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an automatic balllaunching machine having a rotating ball hopper for a large supply ofreserve balls and featuring means for repeatedly attempting to chargeballs into a fixed-capacity, gravity-actuated feeding means openingdirectly and in an unobstructed manner into a continuously open,recharging inlet in the breech of the launching barrel.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading thefollowing specification and claims and upon considering in connectiontherewith the attached drawing to which they relate.

Referring nOW to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view partly in section of an illustrativeembodiment of the invention machine;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view without the ball spinningaccessory;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 on FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 on FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 on FIGURE 1.

Referring more particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2, there is shown apreferred embodiment of a ball launching machine designated generally 10having a tubular main frame 11 supported at one end by a carriage 12 andhaving its other end 13 bearing against the ground. Desirably, supportmember 13 is securable to the main frame in any adjusted position, as byclamping screw 14, and permits the user to adjust the launching barrel,to be described presently, in any of a variety of angles relative to thehorizontal. The main frame includes a platform 15 supporting a motor 16driving an air compressor 17 by a belt 18. The compressor deliverscompressed air through a flexible duct 19 to air reservoir 20 preferablylocated to discharge air as directly as possible into the breech of thelaunching barrel.

The ball launching facility includes a tubular barrel assembly 25rigidly secured to frame 11 with its axis inclined at a suitable angleto the horizontal, such as that indicated in FIGURE 1. The open muzzleend of the barrel projects through a front panel 26 suitably secured tothe main frame and having its upper end projecting upwardly to concealthe forward end of ball storage means indicated generally at 28 to bedescribed more fully presently.

Launching barrel assembly 25, as herein shown, comprises an outer digidtube 25a securely anchored in any suitable manner to main frame 11 andhaving an internal diameter suitable for use in launching a ball such asa baseball. A rather loose fit is desirable for best results whenlaunching balls like baseballs and softballs. Removably mounted withinouter barrel a is an inner barrel 25b having an internal diametersuitable for use in launching a smaller diameter ball, such as a tennisball. This inner barrel must be firmly anchored in assembled position toavoid possibility of being ejected by the pressuriized air used inlaunching the balls, a suitable means for this purpose being a cap screw27 carried by outer barrel 25a and mating with threads at the innerlower end of barrel 25b. It will be understood that the inner end ofbarrel 25b is cut off at an angle of 45 degrees with open bevel end inregistry with the lower end of the ball feeder tube 33. The latter tubehas an internal diameter freely passing the largest ball to be launchedand its lower end opens freely into and is secured to the breech end ofbarrel 25a in an air-tight manner, as by brazing or welding. The factthat feeder tube 33 is over-size with respect to balls launched withliner 25b in place does not interfere in any way with the smoothoperation of the machine. The lower or breech end 31 of barrel assembly25 underlies ball feeder tube 33 here shown as opening verticallythrough the upper side of breech 31. The length of feeding tube 33 is ofimportance and selected to hold a predetermined number of balls with theballs resting directly upon one another and upon a ball in launchingposition in breech 31, and with the topmost ball out of contact with theclosed upper end of the tube as by a minor portion of the ball diameter.The importance of these features will become apparent in connection withthe description of the operation cycle. Desirably, inner barrel 25bincludes resilient seat means about its exterior cooperating with theinterior surface of barrel 25a to prevent air leakage between thesebarrels during a ball launching cycle.

When the machine is being used to pitch baseballs or an object such as aflare or a military grenade at high velocity, it is desirable to equipfeeder tube 33 with a combined air seal and ball holder and having thefeatures best shown in FIGURE 4. The opposite sides of tube 33 areequipped with a housing 84 opening into the interior of the tube andslidably supporting a pair of C-shaped clamps 85 of nylon or othersuitable material. The semicircular facing ends support resilient pads86 contoured to grip a ball or the like resting against a ball in firingposition in the barrel breech and to form an airtight seal therewithwhen closed against the ball. The clamps are normally urged to retractedposition by springs 86 surrounding a connection with pistons 87, thelatter operating in chambers 88 connected through conduits 89 to airreservoir 20. Accordingly, as the air pressure increases after aball-throwing operation, clamps 85 close against a ball therebetween toseal off virtually all air flow upwardly through tube 33 and hold theball until the tank pressure falls to a low value whereupon springs 86open the clamp and release the ball into the barrel breech for the nextfiring cycle.

Communicating laterally through the upper end of tube 33 is a third tube34 here shown as overlying and parallel to barrel 25, the forward end 35of this tube being open to receive additional balls to be launched.Owing to the downward and rearward inclination of tube 34, the balls fedinto open end 35 gravitate rearwardly and discharge into storage cage 28through an outlet 36 in the bottom of tube 34. This opening issufliciently large for the balls to fall freely and with certainty intocage 28. If there is any tendency for the ball to roll past the openingthen a barrier may be placed across the rearward end of opening 36, butin practice this is seldom found necessary.

The ball storage cage 28, as here shown, comprises a pair of end discs39, 39 formed with openings journaled upon the exterior of the tube 34and held in spaced-apart relation thereon by an outer cylindricalcovering of wire mesh 40. Additional support for the mesh and for endmembers 39 is provided by a pair of radially disposed baflle members 41,42 arranged as best shown in FIG- URE 3 along the opposite sides of thedrum and interiorly of mesh 40. These baffles serve to carry the ballsupwardly .4 as the drum rotates about tube 34. The lower rear ends ofbaffles 41 and 42 are provided with a plurality of independent L-shapedstrip spring members 44 having their shorter legs spaced closely besidethe exterior of ball feeding tube 34. Accordingly, a considerable numberof the balls are held captive between one of the baflles and springs 44as storage drum 28 rotates clockwise, as shown in FIGURE 3, therebycarrying the captive balls upwardly into position to roll lengthwise ofthese springs and into the elongated ball inlet opening 45 formed alongthe upper half of tube 34. The dotted line showing of these baflles inFIGURE 3 merely shows the baflles rotated to a position where the ballsare ready to roll across opening 45 in tube 34. Desirably, opening 45 issufficiently long to accommodate several balls. Once opening 45 is fullof balls the remaining balls simply pass over the top of the balls inthe tube and onto the far side of the storage drum.

Drum 28 is driven in any suitable manner, as by a motor 48 mounted on abracket 49 secured to the upper side of tube 34. A belt 50 interconnectsa pulley of this motor and a pulley 51 secured to the rear end of drum28.

The launcher is driven by compressed air contained in reservoir 20 aspressurized air is released abruptly and suddenly axially into thebreech end of barrel 25 by a fast-action pressure differential flowcontrol valve 52. The details of valve 52 are not shown since suchvalves are well known to persons skilled in the valve art and readilyavailable in the marketplace. Normally closed valve 52 is controlled bya solenoid 53 when energized by a normally open pressure-responsiveswitch 54 here shown as mounted on the side and in communication withthe interior of reservoir 20. This switch has an adjustable control knob55 operable to close switch when the pressure within the reservoirreaches any selected desired value for which knob 55 is set. Solenoid 53thereupon opens valve 52 fully and abruptly allowing the full pressureof the air from the reservoir to flow through duct 56 axially intobreech 31 of barrel 25. As this is occurring, the high pressure airwithin the breech is communicated to the balls in feed tube 33 causingthese to be momentarily lifted upwardly against the closed end of tube33 and to be agitated but without causing them to flow backwardly intotube 34. The halls in tube 34 are also usually rolled backward against acrosspiece in tube 34 between openings 36 and 45. As the air pressurewithin the reservoir decays, switch 54 opens de-energizing solenoid 53and permitting valve 52 to close substantially instantly. While this isoccurring the balls in tube 34 roll to the left as viewed in FIGURE 1and the balls in tube 33 drop toward breech 31. However, the inner end58 of member 59 engages the side of the lowest ball just enough to delaythe fall for a brief instant. This delay assures that the air pressurewill be sufficiently low not to displace the lowest ball along thebarrel as otherwise two balls could enter the breech. The inner end 58of adjustable delay device 59 may be a light spring or the likeeffective to provide an effective delay without causing hang-up of theballs in tube 33 and failure of the lowest ball to feed into breech 31.As a new ball enters the breech, room is left in tube 34 for the depositof an additional ball at the upper rear end of inlet opening 45.

Since the reserve supply of balls in cage 28 is constantly beingrotated, new balls are always being presented to opening 45. As soon asa new ball is deposited to replace one gravitating into the upper end offeed tube 33, the remaining balls in cage 28 simply flow over the top ofand have momentary contact with the balls exposed through opening 45. Aswill be appreciated from the showing in FIGURE 3, the shorter legs ofthe L-shaped spring 44 perform an important function in this connectionsince these legs are spaced close to the balls in tube 34 and preventother balls in the cage from coming into contact therewith except whenone of the baffies 41 or 42 is rotating between the 9:30 and 10:30oclock position. When moving through this small arc, the balls presenton the bafile to the left of tube 34 can roll along the fingers andacross the top of balls already present in opening 45. However, at allhigher positions of the baflles, springs 44, and particularly theirshorter legs, shield the balls in tube 34 from contact with theremaining supply of balls.

The launching device preferably includes a fail-safe pressure releasevalve 60 for dumping reservoir 20 as soon as motor 16 is de-energized orupon a power failure. Motor 60 is preferably controlled by master switch61 mounted in any convenient position as on the back cover 62 for ballstorage cage 28. The latter is preferably enclosed by a suitable covermember, not shown, having its opposite ends supported on members 26 and62, respectively.

Machine preferably includes automatic power driven means for impartingspin to the balls as an incident to being launched, the means providedfor this purpose comprising a unitary subassembly designated 70 having atelescopic fit over the muzzle end of barrel assembly 25. This accessoryhas a barrel 71 the internal diameter of which corresponds with that ofthe launching barrel with which it is to be used. Mounted upon theexterior of barrel 71 is a housing 72 supporting shafts each keyed to aresilient roller 73 projecting through diametrically opposed openings intube 71 with their surfaces contoured and positioned to contact thesurface of a ball as it is being projected through the barrel. Each ofthe shafts carrying a roller 73 is provided with a smaller gear in meshwith the teeth of a drive gear 74 secured to the shaft of a high-speedreversible motor 75. This motor must have sufiicient speed to impart adesired rate of spin to the ball as it passes between theoppositely-rotating rollers 73. The various operating components ofspinning device 70 are carried in a suitable housing 76 encircling andsecured to the exterior of tube 71.

In order to vary the spin plane of the ball, tube 71 preferably includesmeans for rotating accessory 70 about the barrel axis comprising a wormgear ring 78 secured to its exterior and meshing with a worm 79 drivenby a slow speed motor 80 mounted on front panel 26 of the machine. Itwill be understood that this motor includes a suitable remote controlwhich may be activated when and for as long a period as desired torotate device 70 bodily about the outer end of barrel 25. In this mannerthe plane of spin may be varied infinitely and in any desired degreefrom the spin plane of the previously launched ball. If motor 80 isreversible. as is desirable, the time required to change to a newadjustment is reduced to a minimum.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the described balllaunching machine operates fully automatically to launch ballssequentially in short intervals at any desired velocity and direction.The direction is controlled by adjusting the rear support members 13,14, and additionally by operation of the ball spinning accessory 70mounted on the muzzle end of barrel 25. This accessory functions to spinthe ball in either direction about its own center and in a planedetermined by the position of spinning rollers 73 as adjusted by motor80.

Compressor 17 quickly restores the air supply in reservoir so thatwithin a matter of a few seconds after one ball has been ejected thesupply pressure is restored to close switch 54 and initiate a new firingcycle. Likewise, the continuous rotation of ball cage 28 assures acontinuous and even charge of balls awaiting delivery into the barrelbreech. The number of balls maintained in the feeding tube remainsconstant thereby assuring uniform and certain agitation of the ballsawaiting launching as well as the free gravity of these balls intolaunching position immediately following a preceding launching cycle.

Although repeated reference is made herein to launching balls of varioustypes, it is to be understood that other similar objects can be launchedwith equal facility,

such as grenades, flares, and the like, and that the term ball is usedin the claims as exemplary of all such objects when launched by theinvention machine.

While the particular automatic ball throwing machine herein shown anddisclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects andproviding the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understoodthat it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments ofthe invention and that no limitations are intended to the details ofconstruction or design herein shown other than as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a power-operated tennis ball launching machineoperable to throw a ball in a desired trajectory, said machine having amain body supporting an open-ended barrel inclined upwardly relative tothe horizon, means for maintaining a reserve supply of tennis balls,means for feeding a single ball at a time into the breech end of saidbarrel and including means for maintaining a predetermined number ofballs aligned in a leading group for successive gravity flow into thebarrel breech and free of the weight of any other balls, means formaintaining a plurality of balls separated from the main reserve supplyof balls and aligned in a trailing group in readiness to replace theleading ball in said leading group automatically as a ball is launchedfrom said barrel, means for adding a ball from said reserve supply tosaid trailing group from time to time to maintain a plurality of ballsWaiting therein for gravity flow into said leading group as the leadingball thereof gravitates into launching position in the barrel breech,said means for maintaining balls aligned in leading and trailing groupscomprising tubular means of generally L-shape and positioned generallyabove the plane of said barrel with the lower discharge end of one legopening laterally into the breech end of said barrel, the other leg ofsaid tubular means being inclined upwardly toward the open inlet endthereof and having first and second openings through the side wallthereof sized to pass balls freely therethrough, said first openingbeing relatively close to the inlet for said tubular means and facingdownwardly to deliver additional balls by gravity to the reserve supplythereof, said second opening facing upwardly and being remote from saidinlet and operating to receive balls from said reserve supply anddeliver balls by gravity flow to the breech end of said barrel, and saidmeans for maintaining a reserve supply being rotatably supported betweenthe opposite ends of the uppermost leg of said tubular means and saidmeans for adding a ball from said reserve supply to said second groupincluding means for circulating balls in said reserve supply means in apath intersecting said second opening to feed balls into said tubularmeans and maintain the same full up to said second opening.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 characterized in that said leadinggroup of balls rest against one another with a loose fit in said one legwhich is closed at its upper end and with the Weight of all bearingagainst a ball in launching position in said barrel and cooperating tohold the ball in launching position in axial alignment with said barrelbefore and as launching is initiated.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 characterized in that said meansfor maintaining a reserve supply includes means for moving the same in acontinuous attempt to add a ball from said reserve supply to saidtrailing group of balls.

4. The combination as defined in claim 1 including means for normallymaintaining all other balls in said reserve supply out of contact withballs previously selected for feeding into launching position.

5. The combination defined in claim 1 including means for moving ballsof said reserve supply coming in contact with a selected ball out ofcontact therewith so as to leave selected balls free for flow towardlaunching position without interference from balls in said reservesupply.

6. The combination defined in claim 1 including means for safe-guardingnon-selected reserve supply balls against interfering with the gravityflow of selected balls toward launching position in said barrel.

7. The combination defined in claim 6 wherein said means for maintaininga reserve supply rotates about the axis of said other uppermost leg.

8. The combination defined in claim 1 characterized in that said ballcirculating means includes resilient means rotating with said ballstorage means and having a free edge positioned to rotate close to theexterior of said second opening and effective to brush away balls ofsaid reserve supply from a ball positioned in said tubular means as toavoid interfering with the free gravity movement of balls enroute to thelaunching barrel.

9. The combination defined in claim 8 characterized in the provision ofpneumatic means for suddenly and momentarily releasing pressurized airinto the breech end of said barrel to project a ball positioned in saidbreech from said barrel at a desired velocity, and control means fordelaying the next ball launching cycle momentarily while the next ballis gravitating into launching position in said breech.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,485,187 2/1924 Hodgdon 221-1671,743,576 1/1930 Smith 124-49 2,057,599 10/ 1936 Serrano 124-6 2,182,36812/1939 Barron 124-11 2,203,886 6/1940 Zamora 273-1441 2,357,951 9/1944Hale 124-11 2,526,018 10/195Q Foster 124-11 2,806,461 9/ 1957 Giovagnoli124-49 2,809,624 10/ 1957 Becher 124-11 3,018,769 1/ 1962 Parsoneault124-11 3,288,127 11/1966 Bullock 124-11 OTHER REFERENCES 1,185,096,January 1965, German application, Hosselbarth.

ANTON o. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner RICHARD W. DIAZ, JR., AssistantExaminer US. Cl. X.R. 124-30, 48, 50

